Harper College, businessman to pitch manufacturing program to Senate Democrats

Aim is a $15 million federal grant to address a reported shortage of skilled workers

July 19, 2012|By Jim Jaworski, Chicago Tribune reporter

Northwest suburban schools and companies don't think the American manufacturing industry is dead — and it's a message they're taking to U.S. senators.

Palatine-based Harper College, Wheeling High School and a Schaumburg business leader planned to speak to the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee this week in Washington, touting the way they have teamed up to start an advanced manufacturing program at Harper, which will provide paid internships at area companies.

Manufacturers involved in the program have said there is a severe lack of people trained to use advanced equipment, which they feel is a result of an unfair stigma that manufacturing is not a stable or desirable career.

"I think anyone who would suggest that hasn't taken a look at the statistics," said Harper President Ken Ender.

According to The Manufacturing Institute, which does studies and research on behalf of the industry, there are 600,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs, including 80,000 in Illinois. Many manufactures have trouble keeping up with demand or expanding because of a lack of skilled workers, according to the group.

Ender was to be joined by Wheeling High School Principal Lazaro Lopez and Schaumburg-based Nation Pizza and Foods COO Mike Alagna. They were invited by Sen. Dick Durbin.

The high school started its own manufacturing program in 2010 after building a new facility with the help of northwest suburban companies. The idea is to get the students interested in the field while still in high school.

There are 26 seniors in the program, and Lopez expects most, if not all, will go on to Harper's program.

"High school has to be relevant to them," he said. "Some think the rest of their lives begin when they graduate. We want them to know the rest of their lives begin when they walk through our doors."

The Harper program starts in the fall, and the college already has 72 students lined up, with internships to start in January. Ender said they are hoping for a $15 million federal grant that would start similar pilot programs at community colleges across the state.

Ender and Lopez said the primary message to the steering committee is that their model can work not just in Illinois, but across the country.

"Hopefully we will come back more excited than when we left," Ender said.